4/29/2007

Photo: The original sepia tone photograph was taken by F. N. Robinson of Howard, Dakota Territory on August 28, 1884. Claimed to be the first photo ever taken of a tornado.

April 27, 2007

Storms with high winds rushed across four states Thursday, spawning tornadoes in Tennessee and Illinois and tossing a patrol car over a 3-foot-high fence in Indiana. At least seven people were injured. Three days of rain this week soaked Iowa, causing major flooding of some rivers. As much as six inches of rain fell. "It's not unusual to have big spring storms, but when you have these amounts. .. it's QUITE UNUSUAL." In New Tazewell, Tenn., at least seven people were injured by debris after an apparent tornado touched down. The tornado destroyed at least three mobile homes, two houses and downed trees and power lines. In Plainfield, Ill., a small tornado tore off parts of a nursing home's roof, flipped over a minivan and damaged several homes but no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, the Northeast was getting more of what it didn't need Friday morning: rain. "Philadelphia has seen 7.6 inches so far; normal is 3. Providence has received 6.7 inches; normal is 3.3, and New York City has gotten a whopping 11 inches with 3.3 inches being the norm." Several New Jersey communities that experienced flooding earlier in the week had more Friday morning. The ground was too saturated to absorb any more water.

FYI

Explore how and where tornadoes are formed and witness their destructive power.